Improvement in perforating canceling-stamps



vJ. L. TUCKER. Performing Canceling-Stamp.

110,217,173. Patenfeld'lu1y171s79..

'lill NFETERS, FHDTOJJTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C JOHN L. TUCKER, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS HIS RIGHT TO HANSON C. OANNEY AND ADOLISHE L. TREMBLAY,

OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORATING CANCELINGSTANIPS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,173, dated July 1, 1879; application filed May 7, 1879;

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. TUcKER,of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perforating-Stamps and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact delscription of the invention, which will enable possibility of their being again used; and a further object is to imprint the postmark at the same time that the stamp'is canceled by a single application of the instrument, thus avoiding the loss of time incurred by printing the postmark and canceling the stamp with separate instruments; and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the canceling devices, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a side of thestamp and canceler, showing their position relatively to each other. Fig. 2 shows a vertical section of the devices for stamping and canceling, and the handle by which they are operated. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the canceler, showing the method of adjusting the rotating cutter used for perforatin g the stamp to be canceled. Fig. et presents an end view of the canceling devices, showing the relative positions of the cutting parts. Fig. 5 is a plan of the plate to which the handle and operative parts of the a milled head and at the other with a screwthread that enters the stamp B. This stamp is employed for the purpose of printing the postmark upon the letter or other package, and is provided with suitable type and interchangeable figures for such use in the ordinary manner. Surrounding the stem B is a spirallycoiled spring, b, which gives sufficient elasticity to the stamp B to prevent imperfect impressions should it not strike the paper in a perfectly vertical direction. f

Through the screw-threaded orifice a in the plate passes a cylindrical shell, D, provided With a screw-thread corresponding to that of the orice a', so that when the shell is screwed into the plate the two shall be firmly connected. This shell has a thin prolongation, D', which extends upward into the handle G, and serves not only to secure the handle and plate together, but forms a case which incloses the spiral spring b', the stiffness of which may be increased, if desired, by adding to it a coil of smaller wire, .as shown at c in Fig. 2. The lower end of the spring b is coiled around and rests 'in a recess, c', formed in the top of the hollow cylinder E, the exterior surface of which is turned to fit loosely the interior of the shell D. In oneside of this shell is formed a spiral slot, d, through which passes the set-screw d. It is therefore apparent that if the cylinder E be reciprocated within the shell a rotary movement will be imparted to it corresponding in extent to the length and pitch of the slot d.

Withinthe upper end of the hollow cylinder E is formed a screw-thread, e, of less diameter than the rest ofthe tube, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings. A cutting-die, F, is placed within the cylinder E, its upper end being provided with a screw thread corresponding to the thread c in the hollow cylinder E, so that the two may be adjustably united.

The lower end of the cutting-die F has a central hole or recess, g, bored into it, so that an annulus is formed around it which is divided by two cross-cuts into four cutting-points, which, when the instrument is pressed upon the paper, enter and tear out a circular piece, the periphery of which is cut by the annular cutter h, encircling the die, and formed upon the lower end ofthe cylinder E.

The adjustment of the cutting end of the UNITEDSTATES PATENT Orf-irren` similar to vthat of the ordinary hand-stamp used for postmarking letters, care being taken in using it to see that the canceler is brought down upon the stamp to be canceled at each stroke, while the marking-stamp will perform its function without any special care. The at surface of the lower end of the hollow cylinder E surrounding the circular cutter acts as a stop to prevent the instrument from removing anything more than a portion of the stamp, thus preventing all danger of injury to the letter or its envelope.

I am aware'that instruments have been heretofore invented which were capable of applying the postmark land canceling the stamp simultaneously, and do not, therefore, broadly claim such a combination; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

A canceling-stamp consisting of a rotating cutting and tearing die, acting Within an annular rotating cutter, in combination with a marking-stamp for applying the postmark to letters, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. TUCKER.

Witnesses:

J AMES E. DODGE, B. P. CILLEY. 

